Around the globe, there is a growing emphasis on protecting our environment. Sometimes referred to as reducing the carbon footprint, this movement has resulted in an outpouring of products relabeled as green.\u00a0 \u00a0Buyers are motivated by emotions and often will pay more money to support planet-friendly products and operations. The challenge for buyers is determining when a claim is valid (green) and when the message is just clever wordplay (greenwashing).<\/p>\n
It seems that every company has launched a line of GREEN products to show that they are environmentally friendly. In some cases, the various operations and processes are deemed to be green because of minimal waste. With or without some kind of formal certification, it is possible to demonstrate the \u201cgreen\u201d nature of a product. Some of the factors that are analyzed during an environmental impact assessment are harmful emissions, recycled content, water use, energy efficiency, and reliance on renewable resources.
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\nCheck the specifics of certifications for applicability to your project needs. Be alert to the use of buzz words and take time to carefully assess product options as they relate to the needs of your application.<\/p>\n
Following is a brief listing of some certifications that are available in different areas. Links to websites will provide more detailed information about the different ways a company can move towards greater environmentally responsible management.<\/p>\n
Cradle-to-Cradle<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n (C2C) \u2013 this certification sets a high standard by examining the entire life cycle of environmentally safe and healthy materials.<\/p>\n Energy Star<\/a> <\/strong><\/p>\n \u2013 this identification is placed on products that use substantially less energy than comparable products. Used in North America, Europe<\/a>, Australia and elsewhere.<\/p>\n Environmental Choice <\/a> <\/strong><\/p>\n \u2013 This is a Canadian organization, and similar to C2C, it certifies a product\u2019s environmental responsibility\u00a0 based on life cycle analysis of harmful emissions, recycled content, water use, energy efficiency and other factors.<\/p>\n European Eco-Label<\/a><\/strong> \u2013<\/p>\n This EU organization has established strict scientific criteria for minimizing environmental impacts.<\/p>\n Good Environmental Choice<\/a><\/strong> \u2013<\/p>\n Australia has this independent organization that identifies products and services that have a smaller ecological footprint that their competitors. .<\/p>\n Green Guard<\/a> <\/strong><\/p>\n \u2013 This institute certifies low-emission building materials and indoor products.<\/p>\n Green Seal<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n \u2013 certifies low-emission paints, adhesives and cleaning products.<\/p>\n Scientific Certification Systems<\/a> <\/strong>(SCS)<\/p>\n \u2013 certifies food, flowers, fish , electricity, wood products and manufactured goods, for various levels of environmental performance. The Indoor Advantage\u00a0 cert guarantees that products used indoors have minimal or no VOC (volatile organic compounds). \u2013 not only is this the name of a familiar hue on the color palette, but it is also used to indicate environmentally friendly products or processes. In the following two examples using this word, the first statement can be easily supported with physical evidence, while the second case tells the buyer nothing specific about the company\u2019s commitment to environmental responsibility and bears deeper investigation.<\/p>\n \u201cCompany uses only recycled packaging made from 100% post-consumer materials.\u201d[can be proved on inspection].<\/p>\n \u201cEvery employee of the company has a GREEN focus\u201d.[statement has no substance]<\/p>\n \u2013 The US Dept of Commerce defines sustainable manufacturing as the creation of manufactured products that use processes that minimize negative environmental impacts, conserve energy and natural resources, are safe for employees, communities, and consumers and are economically sound. \u00a0\u201cThe company recycles 100% of production waste into energy using their onsite trash-to-steam generator to produce half of the plant\u2019s total energy needs.\u201d<\/p>\n – \u00a0Environmental impact is reduced by using products that can be grown or naturally replenished or cleansed at a rate that exceeds human depletion of the resource. For instance, bamboo is a rapidly renewable resource, whereas certain kinds of stone, fossil fuels, etc., are finite resources. The process of extracting stone or fossil fuels degrades the environment and decreases the value and viability of the land for its inhabitants. The two examples following demonstrate different levels of participation in environmental responsibility. \u201cThe company only uses 100% reclaimed lumber to manufacture their widgets\u201d. \u201cThe mining operations rely on wind turbines to produce the energy needed for extracting metal ores from the earth.\u201d<\/p>\n – <\/strong>Volatile Organic Compounds are organic chemical compounds that can significantly vaporize and enter the atmosphere during use, application or drying out of paint or other coatings. This process can lead to unsafe toxins. Workers or inhabitants can inhale these toxins. Manufacturers must disclose the VOC content of products on Material Safety Data Sheets, and management should utilize all available resources to create a safe and healthy workspace where VOCs are present. Evaluate the claims in the context of your project requirements. How much less is enough to make a difference? \u201dthe company\u2019s green products have x% less VOCs than the competition\u201d [but is any level safe?]. \u00a0\u201cthe company has eliminated all VOCs from its product line\u201d [show me the TDS, proof]<\/p>\n – <\/strong>Energy derived from resources that are regenerative rapidly replenished or for all practical purposes cannot be depleted. Examples: solar photovoltaic power generation and solar thermal energy; biomass from landfill gas, municipal solid waste gasification, and wood waste; and geothermal, hydro, and wind power generation. \u00a0\u201cThe company installed three wind turbines this week, and expects that they will produce 75% of the plant\u2019s electricity requirement.\u201d<\/p>\n – <\/strong>A product or building technique that reduces energy waste, thereby helping to reduce energy bills. \u201cthe company installed a living rooftop and expects a 30% reduction in costs to heat and cool the plant\u201d.<\/p>\n – <\/strong>Embodied energy is an accounting methodology that aims to find the sum total of the energy necessary for an entire product lifecycle. This lifecycle includes raw material extraction, transport,[1]<\/a><\/sup> manufacture, assembly, installation, disassembly, deconstruction, and\/or decomposition. It is difficult, if not impossible, to quantify, and there is no accepted standard for calculating it.<\/p>\n – <\/strong>The sum of carbon emissions associated with a lifestyle, building, or activity. This term usually illustrates the higher or lower amount of carbon dioxide emitted between otherwise comparable alternatives, such as the difference between shipping products by air (which has a large carbon footprint) or driving them using biodiesel (which has a low carbon footprint). This is a difficult calculation with many variable factors.<\/p>\n
\nAside from certifications, there are some words and terms commonly used to designate a product or process as having attributes that are environmentally responsible. It is useful to become familiar with these terms as they relate to the goals of your application.<\/p>\nGreen <\/strong><\/h4>\n
Sustainable <\/strong><\/h4>\n
Low-impact materials <\/strong><\/h4>\n
Low Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC\u2019s) <\/strong><\/h4>\n
Renewable energy <\/strong><\/h4>\n
Energy-efficient <\/strong><\/h4>\n
Embodied energy <\/strong><\/h4>\n
Carbon footprint <\/strong><\/h4>\n
Carbon emissions <\/strong><\/h4>\n